Free Web NovelChapter 382: Chapter 382: All Demon Sect Characteristics
Turning his attention to the second Sumeru Bag, he couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow as his mind delved inside.
Inside was a pile of Blood Crystals half a man’s height. A quick glance revealed over two hundred of them, with a few Ink Jade Scrolls scattered nearby, each recording fragments of the Hundred Desires Devouring Essence Technique.
This one was likely the wealthiest of the bunch.
The Storage Bags carried by the other Primordial Sect disciples contained pitifully few items. It was no wonder Chen Jiuchuan had said that many of them had taken out loans to enter, all to gamble on a brighter future.
From the third Sumeru Bag, Xu Yunfan plucked several Talismans shimmering with a golden-red light and waved them in front of Chen Jiuchuan. "Tell me, what are these?"
Chen Jiuchuan examined them closely and said with a fawning smile, "To answer, Senior, those are the Golden Light Evil-Breaking Talisman and the Fiery Sun Evil-Burning Talisman. They’re specifically designed to counter Yin Evil and malevolent entities..."
"Interesting."
Xu Yunfan was somewhat surprised. "Isn’t your Primordial Sect also known as the Primordial Demon Sect? Why do you have all these items for breaking and burning evil, things that only the so-called righteous sects use? Don’t tell me you also eliminate demons and defend the path of righteousness?"
An awkward smile formed on Chen Jiuchuan’s face. He didn’t dare try to deceive him.
"That’s not quite right, Senior. As it says in our sect’s Profound Yin True Understanding—’From Supreme Yin, yang is born; from extreme evil, righteousness arises.’"
He pointed to the faint purple patterns on the Talisman. "If you look closely at the Talisman Gall, the ink is actually made from Resentful Soul Essence Blood, tempered by Nine Nether Earth Fire. What we call ’breaking evil’ is really just refining another’s Evil Qi for our own use. And ’burning evil’ is simply using our opponent’s True Qi as kindling."
Seeing Xu Yunfan remain silent, he grew more enthusiastic. "It’s like how you’ll always find the antidote growing near a venomous snake. Our sect has studied the demonic path for three thousand years; naturally, we know best how to break the techniques of the Righteous Dao. These Talismans..."
He lowered his voice. "They were made specifically for hunting those self-proclaimed righteous Cultivators."
At this, Chen Jiuchuan seemed quite pleased with himself.
"One can learn from the enemy to polish one’s own jade. We have to scrape by, so of course we have to come up with our own tricks. Even cannon fodder has its own way of surviving."
"...Your Primordial Sect has certainly taken ’know your enemy’ to a whole new level."
Seeing his chance, Chen Jiuchuan quickly added, "Senior has a discerning eye! Just as a poison master can use arsenic to save a life, my sect’s Talismanic Technique may appear righteous and upstanding, but in truth..."
His words died in his throat when he saw that Xu Yunfan had already placed the Talismans back into the Sumeru Bag. His expression held a hint of curiosity, showing no anger at all about the profane crafting methods he’d just described.
Before he could finish, Xu Yunfan had pocketed the entire bag of Talismans, leaving only a meaningful, cold snort to vibrate through the air.
Tucked within a hidden compartment of an old book in one of the Sumeru Bags, he found a silk scroll. It recorded astrological calculations for a Dragon Vein node somewhere in the Taihua Spirit Ruins Realm, likely intended to be exchanged for sect contribution points.
When he got to Chen Jiuchuan’s Sumeru Bag, Xu Yunfan paused. The bag contained no Elixirs or Talismans, no Blood Crystals or Jade Scrolls. There was only a single palm-sized, mountain-shaped Token. The front was engraved with the words "Demon Suppression," while the back was covered in a dense, incomprehensible web of Talismanic Cloud Patterns.
Xu Yunfan wasn’t surprised. He simply rubbed the Token and asked casually, "Where is the Martial Dao Profound Crystal?"
Chen Jiuchuan’s pupils contracted sharply before quickly returning to normal. He put on a baffled expression. "What Profound Crystal, Senior? I... I really don’t understand..."
Before the words were even out of his mouth, Xu Yunfan looked up.
In that instant, Chen Jiuchuan thought he saw crimson-gold lava swirling in the depths of the other man’s eyes.
"When my Ten Extremes Martial Arts reached Great Success, the ten zhang around me became my domain."
Xu Yunfan’s voice was utterly flat, without the slightest ripple of emotion.
"Right now, your eyeballs are vibrating like a bee’s wings, the third muscle on your left rib is spasming like a slithering snake, and the blood is churning in your veins as if boiling."
Cold sweat soaked Chen Jiuchuan’s back. He realized instantly that since he hadn’t yet reached Foundation Establishment, his physical body had not attained Perfection. There were some reactions he simply couldn’t control.
Still, he forced a smile. "Senior, you have a keen eye, but I truly..."
"Disciples of the Primordial Sect certainly have backbone."
Xu Yunfan raised his hand and, to Chen Jiuchuan’s horror, clamped it over his face. Wisps of Ten Extremes True Qi burst from his fingertips, drilling into Chen Jiuchuan’s seven orifices like venomous snakes.
In that instant, every meridian in Chen Jiuchuan’s body felt as if it were being pierced by millions of red-hot steel needles.
After three breaths, when the Ten Extremes True Qi in his body had been completely expended, Chen Jiuchuan collapsed to the ground like a boneless heap.
His left eye had burst and all the fingernails on his right hand had been torn back, yet, strangely, he couldn’t even scream.
"Remember now?"
Xu Yunfan crouched down and lifted Chen Jiuchuan’s chin with a fingertip. "Or would you like to taste something else? I might not be an expert when it comes to the Divine Soul, but as for this body of yours... a Martial Arts Cultivator knows it like the back of his hand. Where it hurts, where it itches, which spots can cause the most extreme agony."
Chen Jiuchuan’s remaining right eye widened as he watched Xu Yunfan lean in slightly.
"It’s... in this Little Heaven and Earth Secret Realm!"
Chen Jiuchuan’s face was contorted, his voice a hoarse roar. "Back then, when the Divine Martial Daoist Master subdued the Flood Dragon, he drew upon the vital energy of the entire Divine Martial Realm! He forcibly infused it, harvesting the Destiny of heaven and earth, and ultimately forged the legendary Martial Dao Profound Crystal to serve as the foundation for the path to Foundation Establishment..."
Seeing Xu Yunfan’s movements freeze, Chen Jiuchuan let out a silent breath of relief and continued, gasping, "I... I once found a journal left behind by the Divine Martial Daoist Master. It recorded that... that the Martial Dao Profound Crystal should exist in the form of the Flood Dragon’s transformed body..."
Xu Yunfan’s eyes narrowed. ’No wonder,’ he thought. ’No wonder these Primordial Sect disciples were willing to go into debt just to enter the Divine Martial Realm. They must have all obtained some keepsake left behind by that Divine Martial Daoist Master.’
He recalled the Flood Dragon he had seen in the center of the Little Heaven and Earth Secret Realm, its body covered in hideous wounds and dripping with blood.
The dying behemoth had been bound by heavy chains, its blood soaking the core of the Secret Realm like a river...
"You’ve just reminded me of something..."
Xu Yunfan hauled the dying Chen Jiuchuan to his feet, his gaze scrutinizing him like a blade.
’Should I kill this guy?’ he wondered. ’With a personality like his—so adaptable, knowing when to be pliant and when to be firm—he’s bound to be a major enemy in the future, if not now.’
Seeing the murderous glint rising in Xu Yunfan’s eyes, Chen Jiuchuan trembled all over, drenched in cold sweat. A hoarse plea for mercy rasped from his throat:
"S-Senior... I can still be useful! If you go to the Taihua Spirit Ruins Realm, you’ll definitely need someone to provide cover... I-I can..."
"And why should I believe you?"
Xu Yunfan’s tone was indifferent. His fingers tightened slightly, and the bones in Chen Jiuchuan’s neck made a strained creaking sound.
Chen Jiuchuan knew that if he didn’t offer an undeniable pledge of loyalty, he would die today for certain.
Gritting his teeth, he made his decision. He formed a hand seal, and a thin crack suddenly split open between his eyebrows. A wisp of his True Spirit, like a thread of green smoke, was forcibly extracted and floated slowly into the Mountain Token in Xu Yunfan’s hand.
"Senior... my life is in your hands now..."
Chen Jiuchuan’s face was deathly pale, his smile uglier than a grimace. "If that Token shatters, no matter how far apart we are, I will... perish in body and soul."
